Convertible body for road-vehicles.



W. SHEPHERD.

l ,287511K Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I HG. l.

MW f "j w. SHEPHERD.

CONVERTIBLE BODY FOR ROAD VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEZI. I9I6.

Patented Deo. 10, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. SHEPHERD.

CONVERTIBLE BODY FOR ROAD vEH|cLEs.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21.1916.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

fl'G. 7

Atorney i Inventor SQQI@ To all 'whom it may concern:

CONVERTIBLEBODY FOR ROAD-VEHICLES.

Be it known that I, l/VALTER SHEPHERD, a

subject of Great Britain, and residing at the Dixie Hotel, MarketBosworth, in the countyI ofLeicester, England, have invented certain newand useful improvements in Convertible Bodies for Road-Vehicles', of

which the following isa specication.

This invention relates to convertible bodies for road vehicles andcomprises improvements which enable 'the vehicle `to be easily andquickly converted, the baseof the body being fixed and formino thefoundation for the different kinds of vlicles.:

`Referring to` the accompanying drawings Figure .1 is a side elevationof the fixed body part of the vehicle which forms the Y base structurefor the different kinds of ve- 1 hicles. n Y

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line of` Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a part cross section and end elevation'when converted into apassenger vehicle. Y

Fig. 5 is a side as a delivery van.

Fig. 6 is a cross section thereof.

Fig". 7 is a cross section when the vehicle is arranged as a dray orlorry.

Fig. 8 represents one of the seatl backs or sides in plan and elevation.

The body l of the vehicle comprises a longitudinal part 2 carryingintegral or permanently secured seats 3 along the upper part thereof.The said seats need notbe continuous but may take the form of sepa..-rate sections arranged at suitable distances apart. On the insides ofthe body-part Qare fixed angle irons or brackets 4 terminating at theupper end in outwardly bentY arms 5 which extend under the seats 3 andwhich are provided with eyes 5a kand studs 6, the eyes coinciding withopenings 7 in the said seats. v

For a passenger vehicle as shown in Fig. 4, the seat backs or sides`8are detachably secured to the seats 3, these seat -backs or sides beingfitted on the inside with angle irons 9, the lower inturned arms ofwhich are pierced with eyes 9a placed over the eyes 5LL in the arms orbrackets 5 secured to the body part 2. Bolts 10 are then passed throughthe eyes 5a in the arms 5 and openings 7 in the seats and drawn up bynuts.

elevation when arranged' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Defl,Application inea June 21, imefserial No, 164,970. Y

The seat backs'or sides 8 in the presentcon# U struction carry` endsections 8a extending partly across ythe back of the vehicle. The frontends of the seat backs or sides arcse- -cured by a carriage lock orotherI fastening` The seat backs 11 vto the front of the body. or ,sides8 and fixed seat `sides 1a have apertured stays 12 projecting from theoutside thereof toreceive verticalrods 13 which are carried by the studs6 and support the roof Y14, the latter having pins 15 engaging the`,upper ends of the' rods 13, the interengagying ends being cotteredi-ifnecessary. 1The rear .door 16-to thev vehicle isin twdparts, Vone partvbeing hinged as shown at"16c to .nthe'bodypart 21of the vehicle andthefotherI partk to the end section 8a of the seat backl i or side 8,the two parts, howeverfbeing 175.

connected together by .a spring bolt or catch, 16d. To convert thevehicle for use as a delivery van as shown inFigs.' 5 and 6, vertical 0rsubstantially vertical side boards 17 are y so` y edgewise fitted uponthe seat backs or sides 8, the `lower edges of the sideboards 17 havingstuds engaging'slots 18 in the upper edges of the seat backs or sides.

boltsor catches 19 which engage slots in the v The -up per parts of thesideboards 17 have spring` sides of the roof 14, the latter beingvsupported by the vertical rods 13 as aforesaid.

The back ofthe roof may bep'rovided with hooks or the like on which aback door is .swingably mounted and which can be swung open andsupported by a stay to provide access to the vehicle.

The seat backs or sides Sand side boards 17 may be formed integrallyinstead of in separate members as shown. The sideboards 17 may bereplaced by side members having windows for use 1n a passenger vehicle.

To convert the vehicle into a dray, Yhearse, lorry, or the like, theseat backs or sides 8, upper part of rear door 16 and roof 14 aredetached and a lorry body 20, or it may be a hearse, or dray body, orthe like, pierced f with openings vfor bolts is Placed upon the seats 3and over the studs 6 and secured by the bolts 10 to the outwardly turnedarms or brackets 5 of the body part 2 as previously described. Acarriage lock fixes the bottom part 16a of the door 16 when being usedfor a dray or lorry.

What I do claim as my invention Vand desire to secure by Letters Patent,is*- 1. A convertible road vehicle comprising ka fixed vehicle body,angle irons iXed to the sides thereoi:l terminating at their upper endsin outwardly hentai-ms, seats bolted to said arms and seat backs ttedonthe inside with angle ironshaving, at their lower ends, inturned armsbolted to thek outturned arms of the seat supporting angle irons.'

k2. A convertible roadfvehiicle comprising "a rfixed .vehicle bodyhaving seats along the l ably securing the seat backs to thewehiclebody, afrear door `for the vehicle body, made in twoV parts, one partvbeing hingedly can' ried by the vehicle body andthe other part by 'theendsection of @ne of the seat backs, and means for separably connectingthe two lparts together t n 3. A. convertible road. vehicle comprisingl`a xed vehicle bodyy having seatsfalong the i sides thereof', detachablebacks for saidfseats,`

z a `vehicle top, including a roof, side boards detachably connectedtof4theroofc'and seat backs, vertical rods ycarried bythe vehicle body andsupporting said roof, and aperturedy stays for the seat backs andvehiclev body to receive the rods.

4. A convertible road vehicle comprising a iiXed Vehicle body havingseats along the sides thereof, detachable backs for said seats, ayvehicle'top, including a roof, side boards detachably connected to theroof and seat backs, vertical rods carried by the vehicle body andsupporting said roof, and apertured stays for the seat backs and Vehiclebody to receive the rods, said side boards being fitted edgewise uponthe seat backs and having at their lower edges studs engaging in slotsin the upper edges of the seat backs and :having at their upper partsreleasable locks engaging with corresponding keepers in said roof.

`In'testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of' A .i Copies of this: patent may be obtained for 'five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of iatents,

i f f p f Washington, D. c.

